The Nashville Predators kept reshaping their roster Wednesday, sending a 2027 second-round pick and Vegas’ 2028 third-round pick to the Dallas Stars for forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin.
For Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland, it’s another move built around younger, NHL-ready talent. Bourque gives Nashville another right-handed center with real offensive touch, while Lyubushkin adds a veteran right-handed defenseman who brings size and experience to the back end.
“Mavrik Bourque is a quality, two-way player who will fit perfectly with what we are trying to build here in Nashville,” MacFarland said in a press release. “At just 24 years old, his age and style of play fits in with the type of players we are looking to bring in to help make us better.
In addition, Ilya Lyubushkin is a veteran defenseman with significant experience who can log minutes and be a physical presence in our own end. We are excited to welcome both players to Nashville."
Bourque, 24, was drafted 30th overall by Dallas in 2020 and played 156 games for the Stars. He posted 31 goals and 66 points in that span and finished at plus-12.
Last season was his breakout year: 20 goals, 41 points and a 13.6 shooting percentage. He also dominated the AHL in 2023-24, leading the league with 77 points - 26 goals and 51 assists - and winning the MVP award.
At 5-foot-11, the Quebec native has built his game around skill, pace and two-way reliability. He’s shown a knack for creating off the rush, handling the puck with confidence and using his speed and toughness to work through defenders. Even with a smaller frame, he chipped in physically too, ranking 10th on the team with 78 hits.
What makes Bourque especially useful for Nashville is the flexibility. He can play center or wing, which gives the Predators more options as they continue to sort out their forward group. A look at a possible October lineup would have him slotting into the middle six, with a forward mix that could include Forsberg, O'Reilly, Evangelista, Stamkos, Wood, Bourque, Hoglander, Drury, Marchessault, Colton, Martin and Kemell.
Bourque is also a restricted free agent, so Nashville still has to get him signed. The Predators have about $14.5 million in cap space, and Preds beat reporter Nick Kieser reported that a deal could land around five years at a $5.5-6 million AAV.
Lyubushkin brings a different kind of value. At 32, he’s the oldest player MacFarland has brought in during his Nashville run, and he arrives with 486 games of NHL experience across eight seasons and six teams. The undrafted defenseman is more of a stay-at-home type, but he has still produced 70 points in his career.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, Lyubushkin gives the Predators a heavier, more physical option on the blue line. He finished with 68 hits and 90 blocked shots, and he could help stabilize the bottom pair while potentially pushing Nick Perbix out of the mix. His arrival also clouds the immediate path for Ryan Ufko, who could wind up in the press box or back in the AHL to start the season.
Lyubushkin has one year left on his contract at $3.25 million, which also gives Nashville some future flexibility. If the Predators decide to move him at the deadline, retaining 50% of the salary could bring back assets in return.
For now, the trade leaves Nashville in a better spot than it was last season, and MacFarland may not be done yet.
In Other News...
Stars Just Made A Mavrik Bourque Decision Fans Wont Like
The Predators have made another move aimed at adding offense, landing forward Mavrik Bourque in a deal with Dallas after he turned in the best NHL season of his young career. Nashville sent back a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 third-rounder as part of the package, a price that signals the club is still trying to thread the needle between helping now and keeping enough future assets in hand.
Bourque is expected to step into a top-six role and give Nashville a needed boost in secondary scoring, which has been a persistent issue for the roster. The trade also gives the Predators a little more breathing room under the salary cap, opening up a bit over $14 million, and it leaves one more question hanging over a team that is still reshaping itself. [Read more 🡒]
Predators Make Another Forward Move As MacFarland Reshapes The Roster
The reshaping of Nashvilles forward group kept moving with the addition of center Alex Kerfoot on a two-year deal, another sign that new president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland is not wasting much time putting his stamp on the roster. Kerfoot arrives on a $3.5 million cap hit and adds another experienced option to a room that has already seen plenty of turnover this offseason.
Kerfoot is only the latest name to cycle through the Predators new-look forward group. Mavrik Bourque, Ross Colton, Jack Drury, Adam Edstrom and Nils Hoglander have also come in through trades and signings, giving Nashville a very different mix up front as MacFarland continues to rebuild the depth chart around the edges. [Read more 🡒]